Ormandy, Eugene (18th
November 1899-12th March 1985)
He was a
violinist and conductor born Jeno Blau in Budapest,
Hungary.His musical education began when he
entered the National Hungarian Royal Academy of Music to study the violin when
he was five.Making his debut
in concert when he was seven, he graduated at 14 and went on to theBudapest University
before moving to the United States
in 1921 and taking his name from the SS Normandie which he traveled on.He worked as a violinist in the
Major Bowes Capitol Theater Orchestra in New York City,
which accompanied silent movies, and became concertmaster within five days
of joining.He was appointed
conductor of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra from 1931 where he served
until 1936.During the Great
Depression RCA Victor contracted him and the orchestra for many recordings
with a unique clause that required them to earn their salaries by
performing a certain number of hours each week.During this time he premiered
Carpenter's Adventures in a Perambulator, Kodaly's Hary
Janos Suite and Roy Harris' American Overture
.His success
with his famous readings of Bruckner's Symphony No. 7 and Mahler's Symphony
No. 2 helped seal his reputation.He was with the Philadelphia Orchestra for 44 years and from 1938 he
was the sole music director and conductor.He was made the orchestra's Conductor Laureate in 1980
when he retired.He conducted
100 to 180 concerts each year and always conducted from memory.He was awarded the Presidential
Medal of Freedom by Richard Nixon in 1970 and was appointed an honorary
knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II in 1976.He was also honoured in the Kennedy Center Honors in
1982.
He died in
March 1985 in Philadelphia
when he was 85 years old.
Philadelphia Orchestra & Chorus recordings
Leroy Anderson
Sleigh Ride
RCA 6430 (CD: Joy to the World)
Conductor - Eugene
Ormandy
Traditional Recordings
Angels We Have Head on High (Traditional
French/James Chadwick/Edward Barnes)
